Joshua 5:1-12

Joshua 5:1-12

[1] And it came to pass, when all the kings  of the Amorites,  which were on the side  of Jordan  westward,  and all the kings  of the Canaanites,  which were by the sea,  heard  that the LORD  had dried up  the waters  of Jordan  from before  the children  of Israel,  until we were passed over,  that their heart  melted,  neither was there spirit  in them any more, because  of the children  of Israel.  [2] At that time  the LORD  said  unto Joshua,  Make  thee sharp  knives,  and circumcise  again  the children  of Israel  the second time.  [3] And Joshua  made  him sharp  knives,  and circumcised  the children  of Israel  at the hill  of the foreskins.  [4] And this is the cause  why Joshua  did circumcise:  All the people  that came out  of Egypt,  that were males,  even all the men  of war,  died  in the wilderness  by the way,  after they came out  of Egypt.  [5] Now  all the people  that came out  were circumcised:  but all the people  that were born  in the wilderness  by the way  as they came forth  out of Egypt,  them they had not circumcised.  [6] For the children  of Israel  walked  forty  years  in the wilderness,  till all the people  of war,  which came out  of Egypt,  were consumed,  because they obeyed  not the voice  of the LORD:  sware  that he would not shew  them the land,  which the LORD  sware  unto their fathers  that he would give  us, a land  that floweth  with milk  and honey.  [7] And their children,  whom he raised up  in their stead, them Joshua  circumcised:  for they were uncircumcised,  because they had not circumcised  them by the way.  [8] And it came to pass, when they had done  circumcising  all the people,  that they abode  in their places in the camp,  till they were whole.  [9] And the LORD  said  unto Joshua,  This day  have I rolled away  the reproach  of Egypt  from off you. Wherefore the name  of the place  is called  Gilgal  unto this day.  [10] And the children  of Israel  encamped  in Gilgal,  and kept  the passover  on the fourteenth  day  of the month  at even  in the plains  of Jericho.  [11] And they did eat  of the old corn  of the land  on the morrow  after the passover,  unleavened cakes,  and parched  corn in the selfsame  day.  [12] And the manna  ceased  on the morrow  after they had eaten  of the old corn  of the land;  neither had the children  of Israel  manna  any more; but they did eat  of the fruit  of the land  of Canaan  that year. 

What does Joshua 5:1-12 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

"This [1] chapter records four experiences which God brought to Joshua and the people, each one centered about a token, or symbol ... The Token of Circumcision: Restoration to covenant favor ( Joshua 5:2-9) ... The Token of Blood: Anticipation of deliverance ( Joshua 5:10) ... The Token of Fruit: Appropriation of the blessing ( Joshua 5:11-12) ... The Token of a Sword: Revelation of a holy war ( Joshua 5:13-15)." [2]
God had guaranteed Joshua"s success only as he kept the Mosaic Law ( Joshua 1:7). It was necessary therefore that all the males who had been born in the wilderness and had not undergone circumcision should do so. Circumcision brought the individual male under the blessings of the Abrahamic Covenant ( Genesis 17). It was also a prerequisite for partaking in the Passover that God required of all Israelites yearly ( Exodus 12). Like the stones just set up, circumcision was also a memorial.